246
(v.) It is probable that the shipping of the Port will continue to increase, both in numbers and size, so that any measures that may be decided upon will have to take the future into account, and not only the immediate future, either. Dredging is extremely slow and expensive work, and any scheme which bases its entire hopes on this alone, is, in my opinion, doomed to failure, not only on account of the slowness of the work, but because of the probable uselessness of it, for it is reason- able to believe that, as those parts of the larbour which stand in need of dredging have been, and are still being, silted up, so they will continue to be in the future, and unless a prohibitive (as to cost) number of dredgers be employed, and be kept employed, very little. if any, impression will be made on the depth of the water. And the work will be codless, as it will have to be kept going indefinitely.
(vi.) So far as I am aware, no other plan (than that of dredging) for providing deep water accommodation, has hitherto been suggested, except that contained in a scheme of Harbour Improvement formulated and submitted to Government by me in January, 1902. which provided, inter alia, for the deepening, by natural means, of the water West of the Kowloon Peninsula and inside Sulphur Channel. This scheme I am not now permitted to publish. It would cost a considerable sum of money, money which, however, once spent, would be spent once and for all, and would give us many things besides an increased deep water anchorage, including the vexed question of communications, dealt with by Captain RUMSEY in his report
for 1901.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (OPIUM) OFFICE.
25. The return shows that during the year the amount of Opium reported was as follow:
1902. 1903. Increase. Decrease. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests.
Imported,
Exported,
43,781 46,034 2,253
43,348 46,551 3,202
Through Cargo reported but not
landed,.
13,483 16,442 2,959
Seventeen thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine (17,879) Permits were issued from this Office during the year, being an increase of 3,558 as compared with 1902.
A daily memo. of exports to Chinese ports was, during the year, supplied to- the Commissioner of Imperial Maritime Customs, and a daily memo. of exports to Macao was supplied to the Superintendent of Kaw Opium Department of Macao.
Surprise visits were paid to 108 godowns during the year.
The Honourable A. M. THOMSON,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
..
I have, &c.,
BASIL TAYLOR,
&e.
Acting Harbour Master, &c.-